Adventists and Conspiracies

A few weeks back, a popular pastor in my own faith tradition published an article in our main denominational publication entitled Conspiracies and the Conspiracy. And he made some going points in it.

But as much as I respect the author personally, and the good work he is doing — I think it fell short in several critical ways. Considering the various twitter comments about how great his biblical exegesis was, I thought it appropriate to at least challenge a few points.

First the strengths. The article gives good caution that “a robust biblical faith” is “incompatible” with many of the speculative ideas that have been circulated in the past. And on the flip side, it warns against the increasingly harmful and unproductive “weaponization” of the phrase, as a means of discrediting individuals who advance ideas we don’t agree with. And finally, his article had a very positive pastoral quality to it, kindly urging us all to focus more on our mission as endtime believers, and not be caught up with all the twists and turns of every latest headline.

I wholeheartedly support all these points.

But I found some things more problematic. For instance, he seems guilty of suggesting an inappropriate moral equivalency in today’s political climate when he stated: “today there are conspiracy theories on ‘the right’ and ‘the left’”. In my personal experience researching and debunking numerous theories prevalent right now — there is an overwhelming preponderance of misinformation being spread by one side of the political spectrum. And sadly, whether vaccine microchips, the flat earth, or QAnon drops — almost exclusively with nominally Christian circles.

Even when you can line up comparable claims — say theories of orchestrated voter suppression versus theories of orchestrated voter fraud — we are talking about two different levels of reality. Voter suppression, for one, is being openly and blatantly promoted by numerous leaders of one party, and evidenced by the passage of numerous voting restrictions all across the country, not to mention the widespread intimidation of election officials. Whereas on the other, the evidence of voter fraud is trivial or non-existent, evidenced by virtually every lawsuit being thrown out of court, every major recount validating initial totals, and so on. In other words, one is fact, one is fiction. And only one is a genuine threat to democracy in America.

To suggest there is some moral equivalency right now between the two parties may be more palatable to a mixed audience, a more tactful approach, but it fails to acknowledge what is really happening in the United States. Error is never harmless. And believers should have enough love for truth — to passionately call out and expose blatant falsehood.

It’s one thing to claim there are pros and cons in the political agendas of both parties— and that there should be room for some kind of dialog. But it’s something else entirely to suggest fanciful conspiracy theories are equally rampant in both parties. That’s simply not true.

Second, the entire “biblical exegesis” of how believers should respond to conspiracy theories is based pretty much exclusively on one verse: Luke 13:32. He does a nice job setting the context, and showing that Jesus responded to speculations about Herod’s “not-so-veiled threat of conspiratorial violence” with “flat dismissiveness”. That Jesus refused to let the machinations of a “ruthless and corrupt government” distract Him from His evangelistic mission. Fair enough.

But when do we call it good exegesis to build a case for any theological position by merely looking at one verse? For instance, Paul makes it very clear Christians do have a work to do in reproving lies:

Ephesians 5:11–13
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

It seems clear to me, believers have a responsibility to expose and discredit lies, and specifically by bringing biblical light to bear on flawed and erroneous thinking. It’s not enough to just ignore false theories being circulated; if Christians are to have any kind of meaningful influence, they must be a clear voice in exposing them.

Similarly, the verse that prompted me to start this blog, suggests believers have a work to do in protecting fellow believers from error. Consider:

Luke 12:39
And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

Here Jesus clearly warns that when we see errors coming into the church we should work diligently to not allow the house to be “broken through”. I have been saddened to see numerous friends become radicalized by right-wing propaganda in a way that is a threat to their spiritual life, and the unity of the church. As watchmen, I’m not sure the best approach is to simply ignore this danger. If not confronted directly, it cannot but adversely affect our fellowship. I may be wrong, but I find it hard to envision any real unity apart from facing the issue head on.

A third point, and perhaps the most important of the three, is that what is happening today should actually be a key part of our evangelistic mission. For over 170 years we’ve been arguing before the world that the final proclamation of the Gospel will be given in the context of three prophetic pronouncements (Revelation 14:6–11). The third of these angelic messages predicts a dangerous endtime mingling of church and state that would lead to the establishment of a pseudo-Christian national government, the repudiation of constitutional principles in this country, and ultimately persecution of those who do comply with imposed religious dictates.

To not address the seeming imminent fulfilment of this very thing we have been predicting for so long, when it is finally happening right before our eyes — is disturbing. How can we faithfully give that warning if we are unwilling to call attention to its fulfillment — presumably because it will offend some members within our own ranks?

Consider for example this excerpt, from the Great Controversy, written well over a hundred years ago, and probably still the best book available summarizing our shared endtime eschatology:

Heretofore those who presented the truths of the third angel’s message have often been regarded as mere alarmists [conspiracy theorists]. Their predictions that religious intolerance would gain control in the United States, that church and state would unite to persecute those who keep the commandments of God, have been pronounced groundless and absurd. It has been confidently declared that this land could never become other than what it has been, — the defender of religious freedom. But as … the event so long doubted and disbelieved is seen to be approaching, the third message will produce an effect which it could not have had before. (p. 605)

But of course, that implies the message is given with clarity. Later, that same book describes those who rise up under the unction of the Holy Spirit to give the final warning:

Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon [conspiracy theories] will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of Spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power, — all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. (p. 606).

It’s clear, individuals will be compelled to expose things like the mingling of church and state, the deep spiritual corruption within Protestantism, the growing political clout of Catholicism, and so on. In other words, if you want to give the message for this time — you cannot avoid looking at where the vast majority of these developments are taking place. In other words, it’s not hard to read between the lines and know exactly which conspiracies we should be exposing.

Incidentally, if you continue reading that chapter, you will soon note, it is actually this work of exposing the corruption within endtime Christianity that triggers the final persecution —apparently as a means of silencing the voice of those dissenters. It’s not the case that persecution sparks the dissent.

Of course, that point fits in exactly with the verse cited in the article, and the message Jesus sent to Herod. Herod, after all had arrested and ultimately executed John the Baptist — who is widely understood to be a type or symbol foreshadowing those who will live through the final crisis. He was arrested for exposing (condemning) Herod’s marriage to Herodias as unlawful. And then executed when Salome asked for John’s head to please her mother.

Which is the perfect allegory isn’t it? Herod representing civil government. Herodias, the mother church. And Salome the protestant daughter church, appealing to Herod. John, of course, representing God’s endtime people, condemned the marriage of church and state. How can we miss that implication? Or our duty at this critical point in earth’s history?

So while I appreciate the many helpful points in th article — it seems to fall short in a number of critical areas. It’s possible our current trends will prove a passing phase, powers will realign in different configurations in the distant future, and all that we see today will amount to nothing. That the theories on both sides, are indeed fanciful fabrications.

But I can’t help but see endtime events lining up perfectly. And saying we shouldn’t expose that alignment is perhaps not the right message for this time.

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